Barrister Rotimi Alli, Chairman of Ibadan Football Association (IFA) has showered encomiums on the Governor of Oyo State Engineer Seyi Makinde over the renovation of Olubadan Stadium.
Barrister Alli while speaking at a Ramadan get-together he held for members of the Oyo state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), commended Governor Makinde for the facelift and renovation of the ancient stadium.
The IFA Boss said he didn’t lobby for the ongoing renovation of the stadium adding that the project was entirely an initiative of the Governor.
“I am not a politician but just a sports loving legal practitioner. So I didn’t lobby for this ongoing renovation of Olubadan stadium; the Governor came on his own volition and started to give the stadium a new look,” Alli said.
He then enjoined sports loving citizens of the state to re-elect Governor Makinde to allow him complete the ongoing upgrade of sports facilities and other infrastructural development he is carrying on across all the geo political zones of the state.
The IFA boss solicited for the cooperation of the media in publicising the activities of the Football Association’s leadership.
“We have succeeded in resuscitating the IFA League which had been moribund for more than a decade. And very soon, we will organise the Olubadan Cup. We want sports journalists to give these competitions adequate publicity to enable them to attract sponsors and promoters”, he said.
In his remarks at the dinner, the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria in Oyo State, Mr Niyi Alebiosu thanked the IFA Boss for hosting sports journalists in the spirit of Ramadan, while assuring Alli of continued support from the sporting media.
Meanwhile, matches have been hosted to test-run” the Stadium pitch which is in advanced stages of completion, as Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) took on YK Abass FC in the 84th edition of IFA League.
Most of the 2021/22 IFA League matches were played inside the main bowl of Liberty as a result of renovation works going on at the Association’s Olubadan Stadium by the State Government.
